ASSOCIATION OF PLAY INDUSTRIES - Public Play Facilities

The request was successful.

Dear Oxford City Council,

2 years ago, we were hearing from our members that installations of new playground equipment were falling in England and that this was due directly to a lack of funding within local authorities. This worried us and our members at a time when Childhood obesity is increasing and there are more instances of divided communities. In order to quantify what was happening we commissioned a report which resulted in our #nowheretoplay campaign highlighting the extent of the problem. We believe it is now time to refresh our information and to once again highlight to government the problems resulting from a reduction in children’s play facilities. We would therefore urge you to support us in the FOI request...

1. How many public play facilities (including playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, skate parks, etc.) do you currently have available to the public in your LA area?

2. What was your total budget for public play facilities (including playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, skate parks, etc.) in each of the following years?

• 2016-17
• 2017-18

3. What is your expected total budget for public play facilities (including playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, skate parks, etc.) in each of the following years?

• 2018-19
• 2019-20
• 2020-21

4. How many public playgrounds and play facilities were closed in your LA area and what proportion of your total play facilities did this represent, in each of the following years?

• 2016-17
• 2017-18

5. How many public playgrounds and play facilities do you expect will close and what proportion of your total play facilities will this represent, in each of the following years?

• 2018-19
• 2019-20
• 2020-21

Yours faithfully,

Samuel Lubrano

DAVIES Merilyn, Oxford City Council

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

I can confirm this request is being considered and will be dealt with within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a third party.
If in the meantime you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at:

[email address]

Freedom of Information
Oxford City Council
St Aldate's Chambers
109 St Aldate's
Oxford, OX1 1DS

If you are not satisfied with how your request is being dealt with, then please contact:

Anita Bradley
Director of Governance
Oxford City Council,
St Aldate's Chambers
109 St Aldate's
Oxford, OX1 1DS
[email address]

If you wish to make a complaint about how your request has been dealt with then you should complain in writing to:

Gordon Mitchell
Chief Executive
Oxford City Council,
St Aldate's Chambers
109 St Aldate's
Oxford, OX1 1DS

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint then you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office:
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local Rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate)
Email: [email address]
Website: www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely

Merilyn

Merilyn Davies | Freedom of Information and Complaints Officer| Law and Governance | Oxford City Council – Normal working hours Monday to Friday 09:30 – 14:30

show quoted sections

DAVIES Merilyn, Oxford City Council

Dear Samuel,

Thank you for your FOI request and please find below, the information requested.

Please note - the information below relates only to facilities owned and managed by Oxford City Council. Additional play areas and other play facilities are provided within the city by Parish Councils and other organisations.

Overview and statement on existing facilities

During the last ten years Oxford City Council has invested significantly to greatly increase and improve play provision across the city. Following the allocation of substantial capital funds and match funding obtained from external bodies a refurbishment programme of the city council’s play facilities was undertaken between 2009 and 2015. This has resulted in excellent provision across the city, including the creation of destination play areas at each of the council’s five Green Flag accredited parks, second play areas and MUGAs added in larger the parks for older children and the replacement of poorly located or sub-standard play areas with larger superior facilities serving the same catchment area. In addition, two old paddling pools were upgraded to modern splash and play facilities.

1. How many public play facilities (including playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, skate parks, etc.) do you currently have available to the public in your LA area?

79 play areas owned and managed by the city council.

2. What was your total budget for public play facilities (including playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, skate parks, etc.) in each of the following years?
Answer: Following the multi-million pound investment programme between 2009 and 2015, £105k is available each year for a rolling programme of replacement of equipment where needed to ensure standards are maintained. This can be used to gain match funding for larger projects when needed.

• 2016-17 £105k
• 2017-18 £105k

3. What is your expected total budget for public play facilities (including playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, skate parks, etc.) in each of the following years?

• 2018-19 £105k
• 2019-20 £105k
• 2020-21 £105k

4. How many public playgrounds and play facilities were closed in your LA area and what proportion of your total play facilities did this represent, in each of the following years?

• 2016-17 Two old play areas were decommissioned where larger, superior play areas were previously created within the same catchment.
• 2017-18 None

5. How many public playgrounds and play facilities do you expect will close and what proportion of your total play facilities will this represent, in each of the following years?

• 2018-19 One pocket play area decommissioned where larger and superior play facilities were previously created within the same catchment.
• 2019-20 One old tarmac play area previously superseded by the creation of a superior grass play area on the same road may be decommissioned, subject to consultation.
• 2020-21. None planned

If you are not satisfied with how your request has been dealt with and would like to request an internal review, please contact:

Anita Bradley
Director of Governance
Oxford City Council,
St Aldate's Chambers
109 St Aldate's
Oxford, OX1 1DS

If you remain dissatisfied after the completion of a review, you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office:

Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local Rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate)
Email: [email address]
Website: www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely

Merilyn

Merilyn Davies | Freedom of Information and Complaints Officer| Law and Governance | Oxford City Council – Normal working hours Monday to Friday 09:30 – 14:30

show quoted sections